Blue Earth takes out defending champs in 3A

Blue Earth's Carter Hanson jumped around with the football after recovering a fourth-quarter fumble, rare glory for a player asked to contribute force rather than flash.

Could there be a greater high than knowing he gave his team a crucial possession in St. Croix Lutheran territory? Indeed. A few plays later he ran 16 yards for a touchdown and a 21-12 lead that stood as the final score.

With the victory, undefeated and second-ranked Blue Earth (11-0) unseated defending champion and third-ranked St. Croix Lutheran (9-2) in Saturday's Class 3A state tournament quarterfinal game at Lakeville North High School.

"On offense this year I've just been a blocker," said Hanson, who calls the defense from his linebacker spot. "So to score a touchdown was just amazing. I'll take it."

Key defensive plays limited the explosive Crusaders to a season-low point total. After taking a 14-12 lead late in the third quarter, Blue Earth got a goal line stand, a fourth-down interception and Carter's fumble recovery.

Carter said of the Crusaders' split back option offense: "At any point you miss one assignment and they are gone for a touchdown. We missed a few but we stepped up and handled these guys."

Lending his physical style to the offense, Carter unleashed a huge block to help spring Gus Phillips for a 70-yard touchdown run and 7-6 lead. Replays showed Phillips took as many as three steps just out of bounds as he raced past closing Crusaders defenders along the sideline.

Goplen's third-quarter touchdown run was called back after an illegal block well behind the play. And the Buccaneers stopped him twice within a foot of the goal line on their fourth-quarter goal line stand. He checked in at linebacker on Blue Earth's final drive just to be with his friends.

"Credit to him for coming out injured," Hanson said. "It was a great performance."

"You've got to give it to [Blue Earth]," Goplen said. "We were in the same situation last year and the breaks went our way. The breaks went their way tonight."

Other gamesAnnandale 20, New London-Spicer 17: Junior running back Andrew Russek scored a 1-yard run with 38 seconds remaining, lifting the Cardinals (10-1) over the Wildcats (7-5) and into the Class 3A semifinals.

New London-Spicer, which lost to Annandale 28-21 during the regular season, took a 17-14 lead on Dalton Johnson's 22-yard field goal with 4:48 left.

Detroit Lakes got the ball first in the fourth overtime and managed a field goal, but Princeton's Austin Feero ran in a score to end the game. The Tigers advance to the Metrodome to play Holy Family on Friday.